Chapter 239: Respite
STOMP, STOMP, STOMP...
They both stumbled back a few steps, and Lin Feng's chest heaved as he gasped for breath.
Du Wen was faring no better.
"How is this possible? You actually took my full-power blow!"
Du Wen couldn't help but cry out. He stared at Lin Feng in disbelief, his heart trembling with fear.
'How old is Lin Feng? Twenty-three at most? And he can already fight me to a standstill. Such talent is simply terrifying.'
"You little beast, I will kill you today, no matter what!"
Du Wen roared, his eyes turning bloodshot. His hateful glare looked as if it could tear Lin Feng to shreds.
"Cut the crap, old bastard. I'd advise you to get the hell out of here while you still can!"
'This Du Wen dared to call me a beast? Unforgivable. I'm going to teach him a lesson he'll never, ever forget.'
Du Wen's face was livid. "Brat, if I don't kill you today, then may I, Du Wen, never be considered human again!"
Before the words had even faded, he shot forward, rushing at Lin Feng. At the same time, he pulled a jade bottle from his robes, uncorked it, and a strange fragrance wafted out.
'This fragrance is poison!'
Lin Feng immediately shut off his sense of smell, his mind rapidly identifying the poison's components.
"Heh heh! You're a dead man, brat! This is my specially concocted Bone-softening Powder. One whiff and you'll be completely paralyzed, unable to fight off even a normal person! Hahaha..."
Du Wen was incredibly smug. He had obtained this poison by chance; there were only two doses in total. He had already used one, and he was planning on giving the other to that certain young master.
Lin Feng frowned. The blood in his body was slowing, and a wave of weakness washed over him. 'This poison really is bizarre.'
"Brat, let's see how long you can keep up that arrogance! Once your blood stops flowing, how are you going to fight me then?!"
Du Wen laughed maniacally as he surged forward again, already eager to torture Lin Feng.
"Is that so?"
A smirk played on Lin Feng's lips. The poison was troublesome, to be sure.
But to think this thing alone could kill him? 'He's dreaming.'
WHOOSH!
Lin Feng sidestepped Du Wen's short sword, then pushed off his toes, launching himself into the air. He thrust his dagger forward in a vicious stab aimed at Du Wen's chest.
"Quick reflexes, but you think you can hurt me? Dream on!"
Faced with Lin Feng's nimble assault, Du Wen didn't panic. Instead, a cold sneer spread across his face.
His palms became a blur, carving mysterious, unfathomable arcs through the air. He was using softness to overcome hardness, neutralizing Lin Feng's assault and rendering it useless.
Lin Feng's pupils constricted. He saw something strange in Du Wen's defense. The technique was incredibly profound; it was as if an invisible film surrounded his palms, stopping the dagger cold.
TSSK!
Lin Feng's dagger struck the film, but it was like a steel nail hitting a wall. No matter how much force he applied, he couldn't pierce the membrane, only cause it to dent inward.
"A mere parlor trick! Now, die!"
While fending off Lin Feng's attack, Du Wen lunged forward with a savage grin, closing the distance so quickly that Lin Feng had no time to evade.
BAM!
The two became a blur of motion. Du Wen's attacks were savage, and Lin Feng was soon relegated to parrying desperately, gradually falling into a disadvantage.
"You little beast, now you see my true power! Get on your knees and beg for mercy!"
Du Wen cackled, his expression one of absolute certainty in his victory.
In the face of Du Wen's provocation, Lin Feng merely gave a cold sneer. He offered no reply, simply making his attacks even faster.
"Since you're such a glutton for punishment, I'll be happy to use you for a little practice."
Du Wen let out a cold bark, his hand shooting out to grab Lin Feng by the neck and hoist him into the air.
"Just accept your fate, brat!"
Du Wen grinned savagely. 'Lin Feng is a fish in a barrel now, completely trapped. This time, he'll die for sure!'
A cold glint flashed in his hand as he thrust his Mid-Stage Yellow Tier short sword, gleaming with a deadly chill, straight at Lin Feng's abdomen.
Lin Feng's expression was grave, but he had been prepared. He slammed a fist into Du Wen's sword arm, simultaneously twisting his torso to break free of the man's grip. He then slashed his dagger across Du Wen's other arm and used the recoil to leap back several yards.
Du Wen grunted, clutching his arm, which was now gushing blood.
"You dare wound me?!"
His face twisted in rage as he glared viciously at Lin Feng. He couldn't believe he had actually been put at a disadvantage, and the realization filled him with fury.
"So, what was that about using me for practice?" Lin Feng asked coolly.
He watched Du Wen indifferently. He didn't press his advantage, because he knew there was still a gap between them. Du Wen was, after all, a veteran Ancient Martial Arts master with a wealth of combat experience.
"Heh, you're a cocky one. I admit, I was careless just now. But now, I'm going to take your life!"
A cold glint flashed in Du Wen's eyes as he lunged at Lin Feng again, his hand chopping toward Lin Feng's neck like a blade.
Lin Feng's expression remained placid. He bent his knees slightly, his body moving with the agility of a fish as he weaved through the trees, dodging every one of Du Wen's deadly attacks by a hair's breadth.
'Hm? How are his reflexes so sharp?'
Du Wen frowned. He hadn't expected Lin Feng to be so difficult to deal with; his barrage of attacks hadn't even touched him.
"This kid's reflexes are too damn sharp! This time, I'll cripple your Dantian myself and make sure you can never be an Ancient Martial Artist again!"
Du Wen roared, his figure suddenly halting its attack. Then, like an arrow loosed from a bow, he shot toward Lin Feng, his speed several times faster than before.
'A perfect opportunity!'
Seeing Du Wen suddenly change his trajectory, an idea struck Lin Feng. He instantly shifted half a foot to his left, dodging the vicious attack.
"You little bastard, you can run, but you can't hide!"
Du Wen roared and swung his palm at Lin Feng's chest once more.
Lin Feng threw his body backward, barely dodging the terrifying palm strike. At the same time, he lifted his right foot and kicked straight at Du Wen's crotch.
Du Wen was stunned. He never dreamed Lin Feng would resort to such a vicious, underhanded move!
Hastily retracting his right hand, Du Wen reacted with incredible speed to block Lin Feng's kick. At the same time, he swung his other arm in a wide arc.
SMACK!
The blow sent Lin Feng stumbling back several steps.
"You little beast! You dare use a cheap shot on me?! Damn you! This time, I'm definitely going to kill you!"
Du Wen growled through gritted teeth. He couldn't believe he'd been outsmarted by a wet-behind-the-ears brat. The complete loss of face sent him into a blind rage.
His rage was boundless. He kicked off the ground, shooting forward like a cannonball as he thrust out his palm, aiming to crush the top of Lin Feng's head.